Dishwasher rack

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a dishwasher having plural superposed article receiving racks. The uppermost rack is conventionally mounted for movement into and out of the wash chamber. The lowermost rack is supported by the tub when the rack is in the wash chamber. When the lowermost rack is out of the wash chamber, it is partially supported by the door. The center rack, when fully within the wash chamber, is supported by the tub independently of the lowermost rack. When the center rack is out of the wash chamber, it is at least partially supported by the lowermost rack.

United States Patent Jenkins Jan. 21, 1975 DISHWASHER RACK [75]Inventor: Thomas E. Jenkins, Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 320,618

[52] US. Cl 312/311, 211/162, 312/335,

312/350 [51] Int. Cl A47b 88/00 [58] Field of Search 312/311, 330, 334,335,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,843 6/1954 Walker312/311 2,739,025 3/1956 Stoddard 312/311 5/1956 Sebens 312/334 X10/1967 Bebinger 312/311 Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier AssistantExaminerWi1liam E. Lyddane Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrancis H. Boos [57]ABSTRACT There is disclosed a dishwasher having plural superposedarticle receiving racks. The uppermost rack is conventionally mountedfor movement into and out of the wash chamber, The lowermost rack issupported by the tub when the rack is in the wash chamber. When thelowermost rack is out of the wash chamber, it is partially supported bythe door. The center rack, when fully within the wash chamber, issupported by the tub independently of the lowermost rack. When thecenter rack is out of the wash chamber, it is at least partiallysupported by the lowermost rack.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 I915 3'. 861 ,769

sum 2 or 3 FIG. 3

DISHWASHER RACK This invention relates generally to dishwashing machinesand more particularly to article receiving racks and the mountingarrangement therefor. Conventional dishwashers now commerciallyavailable comprise a front opening door and a pair of racks mountedwithin the wash chamber. The racks are movable from within the washchamber to a position at least partially out of the wash chamber tofacilitate loading of kitchenware therein. Typically, the upper rack isseparately or independently mounted to the tub so that this rack is, inall positions, suspended from the tub. When in the outer or loadingposition, the lower rack is typically supported by the door.

It is known in the prior art to support one rack on the rack immediatelytherebelow. Withdrawal of the lower or supporting rack from the washchamber inherently withdraws the upper or supported rack from the washchamber. In order to load the lower rack, the upper rack is lifted offthe lower rack, dishes are placed in the lower rack, and then the upperor supported rack is returned to its supported position on the lowerrack. This technique has a substantial disadvantage or inconvenience tothe user. Assuming that the user desires to load the washing machinewith a full complement of dirty dishes and/or kitchenware, both racksmust necessarily be withdrawn from the wash chamber, the upper rackremoved and both racks filled. It will be appreciated that the fullupper rack must be returned to its position on the lower rack. Since afull upper rack may carry a substantial weight of dishes, it will beseen that a physically exerting and awkward task is presented to theuser in order to return the loaded racks to the wash chamber. I

It is quite advantageous to support an upper rack on a lower rack sincethe separate suspension arrangement therefor may be omitted.Unfortunately, the prior art technique used in eliminating thissuspension arrangement has created a concomitant disadvantage.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art while omitting aconventional guide and slide device, the device of this inventionsupports the upper rack on the lower rack only in the loading positionand supports the upper rack in the tub independently of the lower rackin a position wholly within the wash chamher. This allows the lower rackto be withdrawn from the wash chamber independently of the upper rackfor loading purposes. The upper rack is movable out of the wash chambersimultaneously with the lower rack or is movable out of the wash chamberafter the lower rack has been withdrawn. It is accordingly apparent thatthe device of this invention allows greater flexibility in use than isafforded by the prior art devices while eliminating a separate guide andslide arrangement for each rack.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple rack dishwasherutilizing the fewest number of components and providing maximumflexibility in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple rack dishwasherin which an upper rack is supported on a lower rack in a loadingposition and is supported by the tub independently of the lower rack inthe washing position.

In summary, one aspect of this invention comprises a dishwasherincluding a tub providing a wash chamber having an opening therein, adoor for closing the opening, a plurality of superposed racksand meansmounting the racks for movement through the opening between washing andloading positions respectively in and at least partially out of thechamber, the mounting means comprises means for supporting an upper ofthe racks in the washing position independently of a lower of the racks,means for supporting the lower rack for movement between the positionsindependently of movement of the upper rack and means for at leastpartially supporting the upper rack on the lower rack in the loadingposition and during movement toward and away therefrom.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a front loading dishwasherincorporating this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view illustrating the lower or supportingrack in the loading position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the upper or supportedrack in the loading position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating return movementof the upper rack into the wash chamber;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view of FIGS. l4, takensubstantially along line 5-5 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view illustrating therelation between the upper and lower racks as taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a front loading dishwasher 10of any suitable type comprising a cabinet 12 having an opening 14'thereinclos'ed by a door 16. Within the cabinet 12 is a tub l8conventionally comprised of a top wall 20, a pair of side walls 22, 24,a rear wall 26 and a tub bottom 28 providing a wash chamber 30. Apump-motor arrangement 32 is disposed at least partially below the tubbottom28 and acts to deliver pressurized washing liquid to a spraymechanism 34. Positioned in the wash chamber 30 are a plurality ofsuperposed article receiving racks 36, 38, 40.

The cabinet 12, the door 16 and the tub 18 may be of any suitable typealthough the door 16 is' preferably provided with track formingdepressions 42 (FIGS. 2-4) for supporting the wheels of the lowermostrack 36 in a conventional manner as shown in FIGS. 24. The tub 18 ispreferably provided with a pair of wheel 5 supporting ledges 44, 46 onthe side walls 22, 24 respectively. The ledges 44, 46 support thelowermost rack 36 and are substantially coplaner with the tracks 42 toallow generally horizontal movement of the rack 36 in and out of thewash chamber 30.

Although this invention is applicable in two-rack dishwashers, it isillustrated in a three-rack dishwasher which comprises a preferredutilization of the invention. Because of the three racks 36, 38, 40, itwill be apparent that the wash chamber 30 should be of greater verticalextent than is now customary. This may be accomplished by increasing theheight of the cabinet 12 which is acceptable under some circumstancesand not acceptable in an under-the-counter dishwasher. In the latterevent, the pump-motor 32 may be of the lowprofile variety which allowsthe tub bottom 28 to be depressed thereby increasing the vertical extentof the wash chamber 30. A rubber boot 48 is illustrated as covering thepump-motor 32 and seals against the tub bottom 28. The boot 48 includesa passage 50 leading to the pump inlet.

The spray mechanism 34 may be supported directly from the tub bottom 28by a shell 52 which overlies the boot 48 and is spaced from the tubbottom 28 to provide a path of water movement from the wash chamber 30into the passage 50 leading to the pump inlet. The spray mechanism 34comprises a hub 54 rotatable about a vertical axis. The hub 54 carriesfirst and second spray arms 56, 58 underlying the racks 36, 38respectively. Projecting from the upper end of the hub 54 is atelescoping spray tower 60 comprising first and second telescopingsections 62, 64. The spray tower 60 is generally of the type illustratedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,541 to which reference is made for a morecomplete description thereof. It will suffice to say that the sections62, 64 assume a collapsed position within the hub 54 until pressurizedliquid is delivered by the pump-motor 32. Upon delivery of pressurizedliquid to the spray tower 60, the sections 62, 64 extend upwardly in thechamber 30 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the dishwasher 10,as heretofore described, differs from conventional dishwashers in anumber of respects. The low-profile nature of the pump-motor 32 and theunusual configuration of the spray mechanism 34 have been shown in aneffort to illustrate a three rack dishwasher of conventional counterheight in which the racks 36, 38 and mounting means therefor are deemedparticularlydesirable. It will be apparent, however, that the racks 36,38 and the mounting means therefor are applicable in dishwashers of anysuitable type.

The racks 36, 38, 40 are conveniently made of noncorrosive or plasticcoated wire formed in a suitable latticework 66, 68, 70 respectively forreceiving dishes, utensils, tableware and the like. As shown best by acomparison of FIGS. 1 and 5, the latticework 66, 68 provide suitablepassages 72, 74 respectively allowing movement of the racks 36, 38 pastthe spray hub 54. The latticework 70 of the rack 40 is provided with asuitable opening for receiving the upper end of the spray tower section64 as is conventional. The rack 36 is provided with a plurality ofwheels 76 supported by the ledges 44, 46 and the tracks 42 in a typicalmanner. Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, it will be seen that the ledges44, 46 and the tracks 42 support the rack 36 for movement betweenloading and washing positions independently of movement of the rack 38.

Cooperating between the racks 36, 38 is means 78 for at least partiallysupporting the rack 38 on the rack 36 in the loading position of FIG. 3and during movement toward and away therefrom. The supporting means 78comprises a pair of spaced parallel tracks or guides 80, 82 secured tothe latticework 66 in any suitable manner, as by the use of clamps 84.Also comprising part of the supporting means 78 are a pair of wheels 86,88 secured to the latticework 68 of the rack 38 toward the frontthereof. As shown best in FIGS. 1, and 6, the wheels 86, 88 are groovedto straddle the guides 80, 82 respectively. The rack 38 also comprises apair of rear wheels 90, 92 which travel on elongated shoulders 94, 96respectively secured to the side walls 22, 24. As is evident from FIG.3, the front end of the rack 38 is supported on the rack 36 in theloading position. As is shown by a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the rearwheels 90, 92 remain in supported engagement with the shoulders 94, 96throughout the extent of movement thereof. Consequently, there are nomisalignment difficulties in returning the rack 38 to its washingposition.

As mentioned previously, itis desirable to relieve the rack 36 of theweight of the rack 38 to allow independent movement of the rack 36. Thisis conveniently accomplished by providing a pair of wheels 98, 100 onthe rack 38 intermediate the ends thereof in cooperation with aninclined surface or ramp 102 on each of the shoulders 94, 96. As theuser pushes the rack 38 toward its washing position as suggested by thearrow in FIG. 4, the wheels 98, 100 engage the inclined surface 102thereby elevating the front wheels 86, 88 out of load bearing engagementwith the tracks 80, 82 as suggested in FIG. 6. Accordingly, as the rack38 moves inwardly of the wash chamber past the position shown in FIG. 4,the rack 38 is supported by the tub walls 22, 24 independently of therack 36. Accordingly, the rack 36 is free for independent movement intoand out of the wash chamber 30.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the groove provided by thewheels 86, 88 prevents lateral misalignment of the racks 36, 38. Asshown in FIG. 2, the wheels 86, 88 do not clear the tracks 80, 82 evenat the extreme positions of the racks 36, 38. Since the wheels 90, 92remain engaged with the shoulders 94, 96 throughout the range ofmovement thereof and the wheels 86, 88 provide a limit for lateralmisalignment of the tracks 80, 82, it will be seen that a relativelytroublefree mounting system is provided.

Since the rack 36 acts as a support for the rack 38 during movementthereof toward the loading position, it is highly desirable to assureoutward movement of the rack 36 at any time outward movement of the rack38 is attempted. To this end, an arm 104 is provided on the rack 36. Thearm 104 extends upwardly into the path of movement of the rack 38. Itwill be apparent that an attempt to pull the rack 38 outwardly of thewash chamber 30 will provide driving contact between the rack 38 and thearm 104 thereby drawing the rack 36 out of the wash chamber 30. It willalso be apparent that the arm 104 may act as a handle for drawing onlythe rack 36 out of the wash chamber 30. The arm 104 is preferably towardthe front of the wash chamber 30 to avoid obstruction with the spray arm58. A disclosure of some interest in this respect is found in U.S. Pat.No. 3,594,058.

The uppermost rack 40 may be supported for movement into and out of thewash chamber 30 in any suitable manner. A typical arrangement that iswidely used for this purpose comprises a pair of channel guides 106 eachslidably mounted on opposite side walls 22, 24. A plurality of wheels108 serve both to slidably support the rack 40 on the channel guides andto slidably support the channel guides on the respective side wallswhereby the rack 40 can be manually moved outwardly to extend throughthe opening 14 to enable loading and unloading of dishes.

We claim:

1. A dishwasher comprising a tub providing a wash chamber having anopening therein, a door for closing the opening, a plurality ofsuperposed racks, and means mounting the racks for movement through theopening between washing and loading positions respectively in and atleast partially out of the chamber, the mounting means comprising meansfor supporting an upper of the racks in the washing positionindependently of a lower of the racks, means supporting the lower rackfor movement between the positions independently of movement of theupper rack, and means for at least partially supporting the upper rackon the lower rack in the loading position and during movement toward andaway therefrom.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first mentioned supportingmeans comprises means operative in response to upper rack movementtoward the washing position for relieving the lower rack of the load ofthe upper rack.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the relieving means comprises meansfor elevating the upper rack out of load supported relation with thelower rack.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the elevating means comprises aramp in the tub inclined to the path of upper rack movement and meanscarried by the the positions thereof.

1. A dishwasher comprising a tub providing a wash chamber having anopening therein, a door for closing the opening, a plurality ofsuperposed racks, and means mounting the racks for movement through theopening between washing and loading positions respectively in and atleast partially out of the chamber, the mounting means comprising meansfor supporting an upper of the racks in the washing positionindependently of a lower of the racks, means supporting the lower rackfor movement between the positions independently of movement of theupper rack, and means for at least partially supporting the upper rackon the lower rack in the loading position and during movement toward andaway therefrom.
 2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first mentionedsupporting means comprises means operative in response to upper rackmovement toward the washing position for relieving the lower rack of theload of the upper rack.
 3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein therelieving means comprises means for elevating the upper rack out of loadsupported relation with the lower rack.
 4. The dishwasher of claim 3wherein the elevating means comprises a ramp in the tub inclined to thepath of upper rack movement and means carried by the upper rack forengaging the ramp during upper rack movement toward the washingposition.
 5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the third mentionedsupporting means comprises means partially supporting the upper rack onthe lower rack and means partially supporting the upper rack in the tubindependently of the lower rack.
 6. The dishwasher of claim 5 whereinsaid last mentioned means comprises a support on the tub and meanscarried by the upper rack for engaging the support throughout movementof the upper rack between the positions thereof.